Amusement device for a crib or the like

ABSTRACT

An amusement device adapted for fastening to an infant&#39;&#39;s crib. In accordance with the invention there is provided an elongated shaft having a free and a root end. A generally flat elongated fastening strap is also provided, the root end of the shaft being joined to a flat surface of the strap at about the middle of the strap. The shaft and strap are formed of a single piece of flexible material, such as flexible vinyl. The fastening strap includes a fastening means which permits attachment to a bar of an infant&#39;&#39;s crib in a manner whereby the shaft is extended horizontally in cantilever fashion. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the length of the shaft is selected, in conjunction with the hardness or durometer of the material, to yield a minimum stability of equilibrium. In this manner the shaft, of its own weight, will bend appreciably down and the force of room air currents or slight vibration of the crib frame will cause a swaying motion of the shaft.

United States Patent [1 Vennola Sept. 3, 1974 1 AMUSEMENT DEVICE FOR A CRIB OR THE LIKE [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc.,

New York, NY.

22 Filed: Feb. 16,1973

21 Appl. No.: 333,358

Jorma Vennola, Princeton, NJ.

[52] US. Cl 46/1 R [51] Int. Cl A631 33/00 [58] Field of Search 46/1 R; 40/20 R, 21 R,

40/21 C, 10 R, 300, 303, 304, 305, 10 C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1938 Perry 40/304 6/1965 Stoffer 40/21 R Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-J. Q. Lever Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Martin Novack, Esq.; Spencer E. Olson, Esq.

[ ABSTRACT An amusement device adapted for fastening to an infants crib. In accordance with the invention there is provided an elongated shaft having a free and a root end. A generally flat elongated fastening strap is also provided, the root end of the shaft being joined to a flat surface of the strap at about the middle of the strap. The shaft and strap are formed of a single piece of flexible material, such as flexible vinyl. The fastening strap includes a fastening means which permits attachment to a bar of an infants crib in a manner I whereby the shaft is extended horizontally in cantilever fashion. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the length of the shaft is selected, in conjunction with the hardness or durometer of the material, to yield a minimum stability of equilibrium. In this manner the shaft, of its own weight, will bend appreciably down and the force of room air currents or slight vibration of the crib frame will cause a swaying motion of the shaft.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures AMUSEMENT DEVICE FOR A CRIB OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to amusement devices and, more particularly, to an amusement device suitable for attachment to an infants crib.

A crib toy can be of relatively uncomplicated design and still provide amusement to an infant who will normally be fascinated by even the simplest of objects. However. particularly strict standards of safety and cleanliness must be adhered to. One type of popular crib toy is the mobile" which typically consists of one or more interestingly shaped objects which are suspended from the crib frame by wires and/or strings or the like and can be set in motion by air currents. One problem with this type of toy stems from the use of suspending materials of string or metal which can be dangerous. Another problem relates to the means for fastening the toy to the crib frame. This is typically achieved using a rigid metal clamp. It follows that the fastening means and the structural parts of a mobile can be difficult to maintain clean and may be a safety hazard if they fall within the reach of the infant. A mobile consisting of a conglomeration of parts may also be relatively expensive to manufacture.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a crib toy of the mobile type which is inexpensive of manufacture and yet completely safe and washable.

SUMMARY OF. THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an amusement device adapted for fastening to an infants crib. The amusement device is also suitable for a playpen or other infant enclosure. In accordance with the invention there is provided an elongated shaft having a free and a root end. A generally flat elongated fastening strap is also provided, the root end of the shaft being joined to a flat surface of the strap at about the middle of the strap. The shaft and strap are formed of a single piece of flexible material, such as flexible vinyl. The fastening strap includes a fastening means which permits attachment to a bar of an infants crib in a manner whereby the shaft is extended horizontally in cantilever fashion.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the length of the shaft is selected, in conjunction with the hardness or durometer of the material, to yield a minimum stability of equilibrium. In this manner the shaft, of its own weight, will bend appreciably down and the force of room air currents or slight vibration of the crib frame will cause a swaying motion of the shaft.

The amusement device is formed of a single piece of flexible material which, even in the hands of an infant, is perfectly harmless. The amusement device is also completely washable and relatively inexpensive of manufacture.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational perspective view of an embodiment of the invented amusement device;

FIG. 2 is an elevational perspective view of the amusement device of FIG. 1 as attached to a vertical bar of an infants crib; and

FIG. 3 is another elevational perspective view of the scene of FIG. 2 as taken from the opposite side.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a mobile type of amusement device 10 in accordance with the invention. The device is formed of the single piece of flexible material, such as flexible vinyl. An elongated shaft 11 has a root end 12 and a free end 13. In the present embodiment, the shaft 11 is of oval cross-sectional shape, although other suitable shapes are possible.

The root end l2 of the shaft 11 is joined to the central portion of a generally flat elongated fastening strap 14. In the present embodiment the strap 14 narrows at one end to form a tongue 15 and widens at its other end which contains a slot 16. The tongue 15 is provided with a plurality of protruding stops 17 which are of sufficiently small dimensions to be urged through the slot 16.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the device 10 as being attached to the vertical bar 20 of an infants crib. The tongue 15 is pulled through the slot 16 to a stop position which provides sufficient tension to keep the shaft 11 extending horizontally in cantilever fashion. The free end of shaft 11 may be formed in the shape of a design as shown or the shaft itself may be formed of decorative scallops or the like. The length of shaft 11 is selected, in conjunction with the hardness or durometer of the material, to yield a minimum stability of equilibrium. The shaft 11, of its own weight, will bend appreciably down and the force of room currents or slight vibration of the crib frame will cause a swaying motion of the shaft. In a representative embodiment of the invention, a shaft length of about 6 inches was found suitable for a particular thickness of the flexible vinyl utilized.

The amusement device 10 may be formed of a flexible vinyl or a mixture of polystyrene and rubber in proportions which give the desired flexibility. The device can be economically injection molded as a single unit.

It will be appreciated that the amusement device as described provides a mobile type of action without the usual and above-listed disadvantages generally associated with mobiles. The amusement device is completely safe to the infant and can be cleaned or washed with little trouble.

The invention has been illustrated as attached to a vertical member of a crib, but it will be appreciated that it could be attached to any suitably proportioned structural member of any orientation. For example, if an infant is crawling near a table or chair leg, the device could be readily attached thereto.

1. An amusement device suitable for fastening to a crib bar or the like, comprising:

an elongated shaft having a free end and a root end;

a generally flat elongated fastening strap, the root end of said shaft being joined to a flat surface of said strap at about the middle of said strap;

said shaft and strap being formedof a single piece of flexible material, the length of said shaft being a function of the durometer of the material so as to yield a minimum of equilibrium when said shaft is extended in cantilever fashion.

2. The amusement device as defined by claim 1 wherein said fastening strap has a relatively narrow tongue end and a relatively wide opposite end which contains a slot, said tongue end having a plurality of protruding slots which are of sufficiently small dimensions to be urged through the slot. 

1. An amusement device suitable for fastening to a crib bar or the like, comprising: an elongated shaft having a free end and a root end; a generally flat elongated fastening strap, the root end of said shaft being joined to a flat surface of said strap at about the middle of said strap; said shaft and strap being formed of a single piece of flexible material, the length of said shaft being a function of the durometer of the material so as to yield a minimum of equilibrium when said shaft is extended in cantilever fashion.
 2. The amusement device as defined by claim 1 wherein said fastening strap has a relatively narrOw tongue end and a relatively wide opposite end which contains a slot, said tongue end having a plurality of protruding slots which are of sufficiently small dimensions to be urged through the slot. 